HM-901

[audionewbi]

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It's going to be $999 

without the dock. 

 

[Sauntere]

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Yes all five of them, it doesn't even say what's inside.  Just like iBasso sanding off the op-amp chip in DX100, loses customers.
 

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QLS QA360 looks good, thanks again a_tumiwa!

 Judging from what Headfi members say (and there are more than five owners) The Terra Player is THE single best sounding portable device.. Check it out properly before being dismissive..

 

[Bokyung]

999 is a lot of money. I'd rather know what's in it before making a purchase.
 

 

[HiFlight]

999 is a lot of money. I'd rather know what's in it before making a purchase.

 

Not many folks know what is inside an iPod or iPhone, but a lot of them buy one (or more) anyhow!

 

[Bokyung]

Yet you can easily look those internal parts up online.

 

[myared]

... and neither the iPod nor the iPhone cost any where near $1000. 
 
I'm hanging on to my HM801 until we have enough proof that the HM901 is worth the extra expense (if the price really ends up around $1000).

 

[tupac0306]

801 sounds really good to my ears with IEMs that are on the colder side of the spectrum. DX100 is very neutral, great soundstage, great power, good bass control, extremely neutral mids and smooth high (on 1.1.7). So far dx100 sounds better than 801 IMO (with the right surgery, of course. JH16 sounds much better on 801 than dx100)
 
I heard 901 sounds like a 801 with better treble extension (obviously). So that means, if you don't like mid forward DAC, 901 won't be your taste either.
 
So I am pretty interested in getting one since it's relatively more neutral, smaller, better design, longer battery (hopefully).
 
And hifiman please make the UI bug free!

 

[Yuceka]

I'm not sure if this is public knowledge yet but the 901 will use double ESS Sabre DAC chip that is in the DX100. 

 

[lee730]

Quote:

... and neither the iPod nor the iPhone cost any where near $1000. 
 
I'm hanging on to my HM801 until we have enough proof that the HM901 is worth the extra expense (if the price really ends up around $1000).

Not true at all. Try purchasing an iphone unlocked that will cost you around $700 and probably more for a newer model. So it's not so far-fetched at all.

 

[lee730]

Quote:

I'm not sure if this is public knowledge yet but the 901 will use double ESS Sabre DAC chip that is in the DX100. 

Yeah its known already but that doesn't mean it will sound double as good or even better. Implementation is where it's really gonna count. Until there are several reviews that point to the Hifiman sounding better than the DX100 I'm gonna remain skeptical. Plus if there are any UI issues at all I'll just skip it. At least from what I am hearing it is slightly better sounding than the original 801 with more extension to the treble. That alone doesn't mean it will sound better than the DX100. We'll have to see.

 

[truckdriver]

I'm curious about the 901 (and would buy it), but I'm growing impatient as time goes on.
 
I remember Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's “FlipStart” from 2003-4. The FlipStart was suppose to be THE portable device solution. It was suppose to quickly start in Pocket PC (CE) mode on an outer screen, but also had a full Windows OS capability by "flipping" it open. Various reviewers had gotten their hands on test units and there was talk and leaks for years. It was finally released toward the end of 2007 after the iPhone came out (and no one cared anymore).
 
HifiMAN can sit on its thumbs for only so long before either that ESS Sabre DAC becomes common or the community concludes that solutions similar to the PP6 and JH3a are preferable (and few care anymore). We'll see. So far the 901 (like the FlipStart) is vaporware.

 

[jhelsas]

Quote:

I'm not sure if this is public knowledge yet but the 901 will use double ESS Sabre DAC chip that is in the DX100. 

What's the advantage of using 2 dacs instead of one if your are not using them to produce a balanced output?
(I have the same question for portable dacs like the Ibasso D12)
 
For me it's a substation increase in price without being so obvious for me the advantage, at least this is my impression. My question is not about the perceived increase on SQ, but what are the roots of such increase in technical basis.

 

[lee730]

I think the Hifiman has the ability to produce balanced output so that may be the reason for it. Not sure if it's able to do that stock though without purchasing the more pricy amp? In that case if you are right then it's kinda wrong and is adding and extra cost to an already expensive purchase (nickel and dimming).
 

 

[reddragon]

Hifimans daps have very small internal memory, that turns me off

 

[KT66]

My Iphone 5 - 32 gig was £600 ( $930) and it sounds worse than a Clip.
 
$999 is a good price point for a hi end player, if it is bug free, and sounds better than the 801
 
I've spent more on cables.
 
never understood why such large memory is commanded here??, I have a bag of SDs and Micro SDs to use with my Hm-601 or Studio-v both into a Voyager. I never run out of music.
 
I bet by the time it hits the UK it'll be £999 ie  $1550 plus docking station that I would never use.
 
It will probably have no decent dealer support in the UK if it goes wrong.
 
So I am looking for a used HM-801